Help spread the Fairtrade word in East Staffs

A new steering group is up and running to encourage local businesses, organisations and people to think ‘Fairtrade’ when it comes to shopping locally.

The group will also be looking to renew East Staffordshire’s status as a Fairtrade borough. Uttoxeter is currently a Fairtrade town.

Fairtrade involves people in Britain and other countries being able to buy goods which carry the Fairtrade mark.

Producers always get at least an agreed minimum price for their goods, even if the market price is below that price. Read more here about why we need Fairtrade.

Now, the Burton-based steering group is looking for a few more volunteers to join them and contribute ideas for ways to raise awareness of Fairtrade locally. One of the group’s ideas is to create an online directory of local businesses and organisations that support Fairtrade.

If you know someone who would like to volunteer their skills and ideas to help with this and other projects, please encourage them to attend the next steering group meeting, which is on Thursday May 24, at 7.30pm in the first floor meeting room at Trent Campus, de Ferrers Academy, St Mary’s Drive, Burton-on-Trent.

More information about how businesses can support Fairtrade is available here.

The Fairtrade Foundation says: “With Fairtrade you have the power to change the world every day. With simple shopping choices you can get farmers a better deal. And that means they can make their own decisions, control their futures and lead the dignified life everyone deserves.”